The ShortShorts Film Festival & Asia (Japan) is accepting short films until January 31st, 2020. Here you can find more information about their call for entry.

About the festival:
The Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF) started in 1999 and became an Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences accredited festival in 2004, where the winner of the Short Shorts Grand Prix is eligible to receive an Academy Awards® nomination. SSFF has now become one of the largest short film festivals in Asia. In 2004, SSFF received a request from the Governor of Tokyo to develop film programs showcasing Asian short films. This led to the establishment of the Short Shorts Film Festival Asia. Now, these two festivals take place in Harajuku and Omotesando, Tokyo simultaneously in June as the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia.

General Rules for all sections:
– Submissions must be done via Film Freeway or ShortFilmDepot (links below) except the Branded Shorts Competition (link to the online form can be found below). Fees are the same in both platforms.
– Works in progress will NOT be accepted.
– If selected, filmmakers are required to provide an Apple ProRes file or NTSC HDCAM as a screening copy.
– By submitting the film, the submitter acknowledges that the Festival has the right to screen the film in any competition or program at SSFF & ASIA 2020 if selected.
– Festival venues, dates, awards, travel awards etc. are subject to change at any time.
– Submission fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
– Selection results will be announced by the end of April 2020 on the official festival website.

Official Competition
– The film must have been produced after June 1, 2018.
– Accepts films under 25 minutes (including end credits).
– All genres except for non-fiction and music video are eligible.
– Short Films must be Japan Premieres. Your film MUST keep the Japan premiere status from August 1, 2020 until Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2020 in Tokyo ends.
– It’s divided by International, Asian International and Japan categories.
– English subtitles are required for submissions with languages other than English or Japanese.

Non-Fiction Competition
– The film must have been produced after June 1, 2018.
– Documentaries should be under 25 minutes (including end credits).
– For documentaries motion pictures. It may employ any techniques as long as the film is made as a non-fiction film and the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction.
– Japan Premiered is NOT required.
– English subtitles are required for submissions with languages other than English or Japanese.

Cinematic Tokyo Competition
– No production year restriction applies.
– Accepts films under 25 minutes (including end credits).
– Films must visualize Tokyo’s diverse charms. “Tokyo” must feature in the film. You do not have to show the real Tokyo or even shoot in Tokyo, and depictions can be based on your imagination or fiction.
– Japan Premiered is NOT required.
– There is NO fee for this Competition.

CG Animation Competition
– The film must have been produced after June 1, 2018.
– Accepts films under 25 minutes (including end credits).
– Films must use CG partially or completely.
– Japan Premiered is NOT required.
– There is NO fee for this Competition.

Branded Shorts
– Branded movies that have/will have their first release between January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020.
– Accepts films under 25 minutes (including end credits).
– Submissions must be videos produced with the aim of communicating the brand or services of a company/organization to its customers. The company/organization can be part of any industry. The movie can be submitted by any relevant party; the company/organization it was produced for, the advertising company, the production company etc.
– In order to promote Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia and Branded Shorts, selected works may be screened/streamed at events or via websites managed by the Committee for Short Shorts (operations company: Pacific Voice Inc.) or other third parties involved.
– The entering company must receive approval from all related parties.
– To avoid conflict with the aforementioned stipulation, please ensure that the individual rights relating to writers, performers, musicians etc. have all been cleared in advance before submitting.
– If the submitted work is in a language other than English or Japanese, please submit an English or Japanese script or dialogue list.
– To enter this category, you will need to fill the following online form: https://www.shortshorts.org/en/creators/branded.php

– Submission Deadlines & Fees:

We recommend filmmakers to read the full Rules and Regulations here: https://www.shortshorts.org/en/creators/

We remind readers that the ShortShorts Film Festival & Asia will take place from June 4th – 15th, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.

Too see other Call for Entries please follow the next link: “Call For Entries”.